Metamorphosis - Jean Lorrah [69]
Although there probably won’t be anything in it for us, come to think of it. This situation appears to be a clear case of Starffeet rendering aid to people under attack by an unprovoked aggressor.”
“Sure looks that way,” Geordi agreed.
“Data, I think we should tell the captain what we’ve learned.”
“May I join you?” asked Dare.
“Your input may prove beneficial,” Data said. “Computer, where is Captain Picard?”
“Captain Picard is on the holodeck.”
As a matter of fact, most of the senior officers were on the holodeck, which was configured as a tropical holiday resort. Picard was sitting with Kate Pulaski at one of several small tables on a sun deck overlooking a swimming pool. Will Riker was in the water, watching Serena Gibson do a rather shaky dive, then making suggestions to improve her form and encouraging her to try again.
Pulaski looked up as Data, Geordi, and Dare approached. “Oh, no,” she said, “just when I persuade the captain to relax a little, here comes trouble.” “Not trouble,” Geordi said. “Just information.”
“Can’t it wait?” asked the doctor. “In three days we will enter a situation that is certain to take everyone’s concentration. Data, don’t use the captain as a model in this. Use-was she glanced around, to see Riker laughing as Gibson splashed him, “comCommander Riker. He knows relaxing when he’s off duty makes him more efficient when he’s on.”
“Doctor,” said Picard, “how can I relax while wondering what information is so important as to cause two of my officers to track me down on the holodeck? Let’s go inside, gentlemen.”
The holodeck obediently gave them a well-equipped conference room, where Data showed the captain what they had learned about the Konor and the Samdians.
Picard studied the display, pursing his lips.
“So the origins of the Konor are a mystery. We have no records of them or their ships. Curious.”
“Intriguing,” Data agreed.
Picard gave him one of his snorting smiles.
“Nothing will change your love of a mystery, will it, Data?”
“I do not think so, sir. It is a trait we seem to share.”
“Ye-es,” drawled Picard. “Now, Mr.
Adin-why are you here?” Dare explained what had been in the two messages he had received. “Our ships are almost ready,” he said. “They’re the fastest private space vehicles available, but no match for a Galaxy-class starship. From what we know of the attack on the Samdians, I can’t see how the Federation could refuse to render aid. Still, I must answer the call. If you put us off, we’ll arrive several days after you, probably just in time to watch the last of the Konor shove off’ for wherever
they came from. A waste of our time and power. If we may continue to ride with you, however-was “Of course you may,” Picard replied. “But don’t assume that we are going to enter into a war.”
“Oh, I haven’t forgotten my lessons in Starfleet,” Dare said. “To be forced to fight is to have lost the first battle. However, this war has begun without us. The only possible way you could stop it without entering in is if the Konor either retreat or agree to negotiate when the Enterprise shows up.” “We can hope for that,” Picard agreed. “It appears we will be first on the scene, but the Klingon cruiser Pagh will arrive within eight days, and other ships are on the way. If the Konor are not true berserkers, as appears from their settling into domesticity once they have taken a planet, they may bow to superior force.”
“If our force is superior,” Data said.
Picard gave him a questioning look, and Data continued, “The Samdians have provided no visuals of Konor ships. Are they cloaked?
Or are they so many and so powerful that the Samdians fear even the Federation might not be willing to send the ships and personnel necessary to overcome them?” “Find, out, Mr. Data. Search for clues to Konor origins. Get me something Troi and her psych team can work on, or something I can hand over to Thralen in Sociology. We need some idea of what the Konor care about besides killing. I’m tired of dealing with shadows.”
“Yes, sir,” Data said, and got up to leave.